The subtitle of O Gato Malhado e a Andorinha Sinhá [The Swallow and the Tomcat], i.e. Jorge Amado’s book and the show António Afonso Parra created from it, tells us (nearly) everything: Uma História de Amor [A Love Story]. An impossible love? Two “irreconcilable enemies”, forever separated by species identity, the Tomcat and the Swallow, like Romeo and Juliet, meet and discover each other, tearing down hallowed laws and rules. “We have eyes to see and eyes to not see, it all depends on our heart’s condition.” Why bring back this work today? Written in 1948 and published thirty years later, it foreshadows the present-day intolerance of certain human behaviours. O Gato Malhado e a Andorinha Sinhá creates a musical and visual universe to inspire us to reflect on forbidden true love. “Love lies asleep in every creature’s heart, and some day it wakes up.”